Why didn't your team use the Kitbot frame in 2006?

[Donut]

The kitbot frame could be improved (we collapsed parts of it this year just from our conveyor belt to pick up balls), and is impracitcal for some drive systems. I think building our own chassis would be interesting; however with no machining or even welding capabilities, our team is quite happy to get the kit frame than trying to invent something of our own with nothing but hand tools like we've had to do in the past (I think we might have managed to get someone to do a tiny bit of welding for us). The kitbot works very well, and unless you're a team who knows what they're doing, I think it's the best way to go.

Of course I'd just love to do a fiberglass or wood frame and be totally custom, but I'll stick with what we can do for now.

[sanddrag]

I see building a custom frame as a great FRC pastime that so many new teams are missing out on.

[Peter Matteson]

We used the kit bot last year and it bent and racked.

My self and some of the other mentors knew we could do stronger and lighter with welded box. We took a ~13 lb kitbot and replaced it with a sub 2 lb box frame. We however have access to welders who weld thin wall tubing all day long.

[JoeXIII'007]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I see building a custom frame as a great FRC pastime that so many new teams are missing out on.

Amen.

We've used a similar frame design, but built it out of Bosch extrusion for the simple reason that its simple to build off of and simple to use. Simple simple simple, gotta love it and hate it at the same time.

However, being next year is my senior year, I want to build something other than a boxy drivetrain. It's what we've been going with since 2000 something.

[eugenebrooks]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I'd like to know from the teams that rolled their own frame why they chose to do so. Was it weight? Force of habit? The desire to do something different? Something else I've missed completely after being spoiled for two seasons by the Kitbot?

We have gradually welded more and more of our robot frame over the years, using 6061-T6 aluminum box tubing. It avoids the weight of the attaching hardware and avoids loose nuts and bolts. This has been so successful it appears that we will be upgrading to a higher current welder next year so that we can weld thicker aluminum sections with impunity.

[twolf]

We are also trying to look at moving away from the KOP chassis for next year, where do you suggest getting this particular type of box tubing and what is a typical cost?

[sanddrag]

Here's our 2006 frame and here's our 2005 frame. Both made from 6063 aluminum box tubing (1/8" wall thickness) cut, machined, welded, and polished. Bought the box tubing from a local supplier. There are two online suppliers that come to mind where you can check the price.

www.onlinemetals.com
www.metalsdepot.com

[Rickertsen2]

The kitbot is great if you want to build a kitbot, but we wanted to build a 1139 bot. Building your own frame takes minimal effort, gives infinite flexibility and theres nothing stronger than a welded connection. Designing around the kitbot seems like more trouble than its worth.

[Beth Sweet]

This is going to sound really silly, but we didn't use it this year because we didn't have to. It was kind of like a right of passage, we can do what we want! Kind of a reward for doing so much better in getting sponsors this year

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Our team did use the kitbot frame in 2006. But I sure wished we hadn't.

The problem with that frame is that it has no cross bracing to prevent bending. Over time it will slowly deform.

Which is what happened to us.

We started out with a six-wheeled, rocking (center wheel lowered), robot and ended our last match without any rock. The whole frame had literally been bent into an arch, with all six wheels flat on the floor.

To make matters worse the sides also bent in-wards! This distorted our chain path causing us to perpetually lose chains during matches.

I will be very hesitant to use the kitbot again in the future.

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

The problem with that frame is that it has no cross bracing to prevent bending. Over time it will slowly deform.

Very true... but to solve the problem why not make your own cross bracing to prevent it from bending?

... the kit chassis that is provided in the kit is very useful and I am sure many teams thank FIRST for providing them each year.

[Tytus Gerrish]

we dont use it because we have plenty of plate acces to a waterjet 4 welders and a cnc plasma cutter. although every year we begin by saying were going to use it because it would be so easy. then we go nuts and make it with the waterjet anyways.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by Arefin Bari

Very true... but to solve the problem why not make your own cross bracing to prevent it from bending?

And while I'm at it, why don't I make my own frame that's better?!